Here’s to herbs and potions
Guest speaker at the June meeting of Johannesburg South Garden Club was Patsy Vergeer, who spoke about her passion and interest in herbs and potions.
SOUTH OF JOHANNESBURG – Patsy’s love with herbs began after she was ill as a youngster and a plant saved her life. “After that I began a herb and vegetable garden in my teens and I haven’t looked back since,” she said.
Patsy travelled and lived in Holland, teaching Dutch to British and Turkish children and also taught herbal cooking, participating in a community herb garden for eight years.
When she returned to live in South Africa in the East Rand, she managed to get assistance from Kempton Park Parks Department and she established the very first community herb garden in the country. Not long after this she joined the Horticultural Society and the original Herb Association of South Africa.
She became the Regional Representative for the HAoSA and received many accolades for her work, including Herb Lady of the Year and Cultural Lady of the Year awards.
Patsy began her business, Patsy’s Potions about 18 years ago and makes all her own healing, culinary and beauty products.
“I love my garden and frequently chat to my plants and flowers,” Patsy laughed. “When you are a gardener, everything you do in the garden, you should do with love. The marvellous thing about growing your own herbs and vegetables, you can pick them fresh every day and cook with them. It’s wonderful.
“Organic gardening is becoming big here in South Africa now and if you have a small space in your garden, cultivate it, and plant vegetables and herbs. They’ll also grow quite happily among your flower beds.”
In Patsy’s shop in Kempton Park West you’ll find a huge selection of herbs, dried herbs and spices, herb teas, as well as a herb bread making kit.
“I make all my own healing creams which range from the treatment for nappy rash to eczema, bedsores to varicose veins and lots of other ailments in between. I also sell herb sleep pillows and aroma therapy premixed oils, pure aromatherapy oils and herb tinctures.”
Patsy’s large and varied selection of culinary herb and spice mixtures contain no anti-caking or MSG. Choose from seasonings for meat, chicken and fish, bouquet garni, Cajun cooking, herb salts, mixed spices for baking, salad sprinkle and stuffing mix for chicken and turkey. The list is lengthy (visit: www.patsyspotions.co.za) for more information.
Patsy also makes and sells pure glycerine soaps, Castille soaps, bath salts, bubble bath, shower gel and liquid hand soaps. For those who have sensitive skin buy the natural washing powder she makes.
Patsy also offers lectures in English, Afrikaans and Dutch on all aspects of plants and herbs. Patsy’s Potions ongoing 14 module herbs and herbal products course includes lectures and workshops.
She also has a selection of gemstones, natural and polished.
You can e-mail Patsy: patsyspotions@vergeer.co.za or phone 011 393 3427 (office hours only). If you would like to visit the shop, make prior arrangement by emailing or phoning.
The next garden club meeting will take place on Saturday July 19 with guest speaker, Judd Kirkel who will speak on succulents while taking a walk in the Kliprivierberg Nature Reserve. Please bring along your hats, and wear walking shoes for a short walk in the KNR with Judd. On Tuesday July 29 there will be a hands-on workshop, Christmas in July, learn how to make a Christmas Cracker Centrepiece.
For more information please contact Maud Pickup 011 4350852/ 082 854 9212, Rob Jones 082 049 9739 or Fathima Badat 071 191 8700/ 011 432 2628.
